Loom and actuation means for loom shuttles



my 1953 A. ILQNGORIA 'mfimw LOOM AND ACTUATION MEANS FOR LOOM SHUTTLESFiled June 6, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheetl INVENTDR,

W mwwm mmwm W QM w 1953 A. LONGORHA fi w LOOM AND ACTUATION MEANS FORLOOM SHUTTLES Filmd. June; 6, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTOWNEYS A.LONGQRIA LOOM AND ACTUATION MEANS FOR LOOM SHUTTLES Filed. June 6. 19505 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEYS m 159 1953 A. LONGORIA 2,652M73 LOOM ANDACTUATION MEANS F OR LOOM SHUTTLES Filed June 6, 1950 5 Sheets-Shae; 5

[i'l ANTONIQ mmmwm 7 ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 15, 1953 LOOM ANDACTUATION MEANS FOR LOOM SHUTTLE S.

Antonio Longoria, Cleveland, Ohio Application June 6, 1950, SerialNo.166,427

13 Claims.

This invention relates to looms, and especially to the particular typeof actuation or throwing means provided for effecting the desired rapidtransverse movement of the shuttle of the loom.

For many, many years, looms have been provided with shuttles that aremoved or thrown across the loom in order to carry the weft, or pickthread of the material across the warp threads in the material beingwoven. It has been common practice for a great length of time to throwthese shuttles across the loom by means of a wooden actuation or controlarms or picker sticks, which are pivotally secured to side portions ofthe loom adjacent one end of the arm and with the free end of the armbeing that which engages with the shuttle to move or throw same. Thecontrol arm has itself been actuated by an impact mechanism that engageswith the control arm intermediate the free and pivoted ends thereof sothat the control arm is given a violent or hammered type of actuation inorder to obtain the desired high-speed movement to the loom shuttle.Obviously such impacts of the shuttle and the shuttle control arm haveproduced continual noise and vibration in previous types of looms sothat in a factory where there is any number of looms, there has been somuch noise, vibration and general disturbance that it has been verydifficult for the workers to work efliciently. Furthermore, the greatvibration and frequent jars have, together with the hammering type ofshuttle operation of these machines, caused the machines to break downrelatively frequently, so that looms have been quite expensive tomaintain and keep in good operating condition. Heretofore weavingfactories have required as many as two maintenance mechanics for everyto looms in a given factory. Also, due to the excessive shock and thevibration and wear on machines of this type, the wooden picker sticksused usually last only about two to seven days and consequently are anexpensive maintenance and replacement item.

It is the general object of the present invention to avoid the foregoingand other difiiculties with and disadvantages of present types of looms,and to provide a loom which is characterized by the quiet, effective andsubstantially vibrationless and jar-free operation thereof.

Another object of the invention is to'provide a drive for a shuttle in aloom which drive is efficient, sturdy, and easily controlled, and whichavoids a hammer-type impact drive of the shuttle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a unitary control in aloom for shuttle operating 2 means positioned adjacent each lateralmargin of the loom.

Another object of the invention is to use a set of spring members foractuation of a shuttle in a m.

A further object of the invention is to provide adjustable, easilyreplaced coil springs in a loom for driving or throwing the shuttle ofthe loom, which springs can readily be compressed and locked in acompressed condition and released at a desired instance in the cycle ofoperation of the loom.

Yet, another object of the invention is to provide a new type of a stopmember in a loom for receiving the impact of the shuttle, which stopmember can easily be adjusted to vary the resistance thereof and whichcan readily be provided with new stop means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a loom which hasrelatively low maintenance cost thereon, and which is substantially freefrom vibration and jars or impacts.

It is another object of the present invention to provide shuttlethrowing and stopping mean in aloom whereby the service life of ashuttle and the actuation means therefor are greatly increased over thatobtained in previous types of looms.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will bemade more apparent as the specification proceeds.

For a better understanding of the present invention, attention isdirected to the accompanying drawings which disclose one presently bestknown embodiment of the invention, and wherein.

Fig. 1 is an elevation, partially broken away, of a loom particularlyshowing the shuttle control means of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing the drivemeans of the apparatus of the invention; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan taken on line 44 of Fig; 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 4 of theshuttle contact means;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section, partially broken away and taken on line6-6 of Fig. 4 of the spring drive means for the shuttle;

Figs. '7 and 8 are fragmentary vertical sections of the spring controlmeans taken on lines 'I'! and 8-8, respectively, of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on line 9-9 ofFig. 4.

The present invention, broadly speaking, can be said to comprise theprovision of drive means for a shuttle in a loom, wherein such drivemeans comprises a set of coil springs positioned adjacent each lateralmargin of a loom, unitary drive means, spring compression meansassociated with each set of the springs and controlled by the unitarydrive means for alternately compressing the sets of coil springs, lockmeans for retaining the coil springs in a compressed condition, acontrol arm associated with each set of coil springs.

for contacting the shuttle to throw same, and release means controlledby the unitary drive means for releasing the compressed sets of coilsprings at desired instances in the cycle of operation of the loom.

In order to facilitate correlation between corresponding parts in theaccompanying specification and drawings, corresponding numerals will beused toidentify such parts in both the drawings and the specification. 7

Reference now should be had to the details of the structure shown in theaccompanying drawing, and a mom is indicated in general by the numeralI. This loom is not shown completely but only the portion of the loomassociated with or relating to the movement of the shuttle across theloom is shown. Thus the portion of the loom illustrated includesaframefor the lay of the loom and indicated by the numeral 2. This frame 2includes a pair of vertically extending supports 3 the lower ends ofwhich are positioned by means of bushings or bearings 4 which themselvesengage with support pins 5 positioned by and extending between housings6. The frame 2 has control rods or links I secured to each of thesupports 3 adjacent the upper portions thereof and these rods 1 connectto suitable means (not shown) by, which the frame 2' can be oscillatedwith relation to the remainder ofthe loom to facilitate the desiredweaving action in conformity with conventional practice.

Drive mechanism The drive for the shuttle control means of the inventionis shown as including a standard electric motor 8 which has a drivenoutput shaft 9 that connects to and drives a driven or control shaft byconventional means such as a plurality of gears H which form a speedreducer r The shaft connection for driving the shaft [0. I0 is journaledin suitable bearings l2 at each end thereof. The shaft ID has aneccentric l3 suitably secured thereto and a split collar I4 is carriedby the eccentric I3 for relative rotation therebetween. The collar M hasa connector rod or link l5 extending therefrom and it connects to aturnbuckle or connector sleeve I6 by a threaded engagement. The otherend of the sleeve l6 has a similar connector rod l'l threadably engagedtherewith and extending therefrom. This second connector rod I! has aball and socket joint connection with an arm I8 which extend rigidlyfrom a control rod [9 the ends of which are suitably journaled inportions of the frame 2. The arm I8 is spaced only slightly from thesupport pins 5. Thus upon operation of the motor 8, the eccentric i3 isadapted to cause oscillation of the control rod IS. The lower end of thecontrol rod I9 is shown suitably journaled in an extended portion of theframe 2.

The upper end or portion of the control rod I9 has an actuating arm 2!suitably secured thereto and protruding therefrom and this arm 2| has apivotal connection, by a bolt or similar or At) all) , movement indesired time relationship to the operation of the rest of the loom. Suchmotion of the pusher bar is provided by the motor 8 by the mechanismdescribed hereinbefore, and specifically, by the connector link 23. Thebar 24 may be adjustable in length.

Spring shuttle actuation means The spring mechanism of the invention isbest shown in Figs. 6 through 9 of the drawings and it includes a pairof end plates 26 and 21 that aresuitably secured to the frame 2 adjacenteach marginal portion thereof with the plates and- 2l being positionedin spaced parallel relation to each other. A plurality of bearing rods28 are suitably engaged with and extend between the pairs of end plates25 and 21 by means of threaded studs 29 that extend therefrom throughthe end plates and have nuts 39 engaged therewith to provide a solid,unitary assembly of the bearing rods and end plates. A pusher plate, orcompression control plate 3i is slidably engaged with each unit ofbearing rods 23 for movement therealong. The drawings indicated thatsleeves 32 may be welded or otherwise engaged with the pusher plates 3!and be in snug sliding engagement with the bearing rods 28 to positionthe plates 3! in a desired manner.

As an important feature of the invention, a

plurality of coil springs are positioned in sets inassociation with eachpair of end'plates 26 and 2'5 whereby a large and controllable springforce can be produced by theapparatus of the invention for actuation ordrive of the shuttle of the loom. The spring means provided arepositioned by a plurality of positioning rods or tubes 33 that extendthrough each set of end plates 26 and 2': and which are positioned inparallel relation to each other and to the bearing rods 28. Each ofthese positioning tubes 33 normally receives a coil spring 34 thereon.Each of the pusher or control plates 3| is adapted to engage withcorresponding ends of each of the coil springs 3t and, upon movement ofthe pusher plate 3! towards the end plate 26, compress the sets of coilsprings 34. Movement of the pusher plate 3| is provided by means of thepusher bar 24 that extendsthrough the end plates 21 and is partiallypositioned thereby. Each end of the pusher bar 24 is provided with afoot 35 that is adapted to contact the inner surface of each of thepusher plates 3| and effect movement thereof upon outward movement ofthat particular end of the pusher bar 24 and the foot 35 providedthereon that engages that particular pusher plate 3!.

Normally it is necessary to lock the sets of coil springs 34 incompressed positions and suitable release means are provided forreleasing the stored energy in such coil springs at any desired instancefor shuttle actuation. These lock means are shown as comprising a lockarm 36, which has a substantially C-shaped end portion therein with aroller 3! being journaled in the end of the lock arm. which extendsinwardly of the ap-- pal-anus n'om the end plate 26, by suitablepositioning means. These positioning means may comprise a substantiallyU-shaped bracket 38 that is removably secured to the end plate 26 bynuts 39 and which serve to position the bracket 38 rigidly in theapparatus. The free end portion of the lock arm 36 may be beveled orslanted upwardly of the loom as at SBa in a.

direction extending inwardly of the loom whereby the lock arm 36 canreadily be deflected upwardly of the loom, when desired, as hereinafterpointed out. Each of the pusher or control plates 3! has rigidly securedto the laterally outer surface thereof a lock arm 4! which has anupwardly turned end portion 42 on which a.

roller 43 is journaled in a conventional manner. The lock arms 35 and i!are so positioned with relation to each other that upon compressionaction of the pusher plate 3| by being moved towards the end plate 28,the roller 43 will strike the roller 3? and end 3 5a of the lock arm 36and deflect it upwardly up over the roller 43. It will be noted that theroller 43 is positioned vertically above the normal (lowest) position ofthe roller 3'5 whereby once the pusher plate 3| is moved suflicientlyfar across the bearing rods 28 to pass beyond the roller 31, such lockarms 36 and ll will be in locked engagement until displaced withrelation to each other by some externally applied force.

Downward movement of the control arm 36 can be limited by anyconventional means such as a pin [00 that is suitably secured to andprotrudes from a portion of the positioning bracket 38 or other fixedmember. is so positioned with relation to the control arm 36 that itlimits downward movement thereof to a substantially horizontal positionas shown in Fig. 6. With the control arm 35 in the position shown, theroller 3'! is positioned slightlybelow the vertical position of theroller 43 but is free to raise up and drop down into engagementtherewith. Release of the engaged rollers 31 and 33 can only be effectedby a vertically upwardly directed force applied to the control arm 3'0and such action necessitates a further slight compression of the set ofcoil springs 34, until the roller 3! is slightly vertically above thecenterline of the roller 43 at which time a substantially instantaneousupward and release movement of the roller 32' will be immediately andautomatically provided. The control or pusher plate 31 and associatedmeans will immediately actuate the shuttle controlled by that portion ofthe apparatus when such pusher plate is released.

Any desired type of lock release mechanism may be providedin the loom Iand Figs. 1 and 6 indicate that a release link 44 is positioned beloweach set of the springs 3d and it is pivotally secured to the frame 2 bymeans of a positioning link 65 that is pivotally carried by a lowerportion of the frame 2 adjacent each lateral margin thereof. Thisrelease link 44 is fixedly secured intermediate its ends to the link 35and the other end of the release link 44 is pivotally secured to acontrol rod it which extends transversely of the apparatus and has thesecond end thereof pivotally secured to an arm 41 which is fixedlysecured to the control rod I9 and extends therefrom at substantial rightangles thereto whereby'this control arm 41 oscillates with the con-'trol rod i9 and the control rod 46 is moved like the pusher bar 24. Fig.6 of the drawings clearly indicates that the upper end of the releaselink 45 is positioned immediately below the lock arm 38 This control pinliii) r so that upon reciprocation of the control rod #6, the upper endof this release link 44 is moved through an arc and it has suflicientvertical movement by reason of its pivoting about the fixed end of thepositioning link 45 to efiect an upward actuation of the lock arm 36 andrelease the engagement of rollers 31 and 43 whereby the pusher plate 3|is released and the shuttle is actuated, as hereinafter described.

A coil spring 48 or equivalent device is usually connected to the lowerportion of the lock arm 35 by means of a wire 49 so that this look armis normally urged or pulled downwardly into its lowermost position. Thecoil spring 48 can be suitably engaged with the frame 2 or other se--curing member in any desired manner.

Each of the pusher plates 3| has a shuttle control arm or plate 5!)suitably secured to the upper portion therefrom and extending across theloom of the invention to a point in the path of a shuttle 5!, ofconventional construction, which is provided for being thrown orimpelled or other-- wise moved transversely of the loom I to deposit thepick thread in the material being woven. It will be noted that theshuttle 5| has sharp points at each end thereof, and the point of theshuttle 5| is received on suitable cushioning means to stop the shuttleat each lateral margin of the loom. Such shuttle stopping means mayinclude a metal member, or sleeve 52, Fig. 5, which is secured by a capscrew 53 to an end portion of the control plate 50. The sleeve 52receives therein a plurality of discs 54 which may be made from any kindof rubber, or rubber-like material, including synthetic rubbers andother discs 54a that may be made from rawhide. The resiliency orstifiness of each of the discs 5!! may be varied as desired. These discs54 and 54a are retained within the sleeve 52 by an apertured end cap 55which has threaded engagement with an end portion of the sleeve 52 andwhich has a hole or aperture 56 in the end thereof to permit the end ofthe shuttle 51 to contact the exposed surface of the end disc 54a.Should it be desired to replace one of the discs, it can readily be doneby merely removing the end cap 55 and inserting a different disc. Thetension or compression set up on the discs 54 and 54a can readily be.varied by loosening or tightening the cap, or by,

removing the cap 55 and inserting different width or thickness discs inthe sleeve 52.

In some instances it is desirable to vary or adjust the compressionalforce set up in the shuttle control means of the invention so that anadjustable end or stop plate 51 usually is provided in the loom. One ofthe end plates 5'! is slidably engaged with each set of the bearing rods28 and has abutted thereagainst the ends of the coil springs 34 remotefrom the ends thereof engaged with the pusher plates 3|. The adjustableend plate has a conventional threaded bushing 58 or similar membersuitably secured thereto. and a threaded cap screw 59 or similar memberengages the bushing 58 and protrudes through-the end plate 26. The capscrew 59 has a head 60 pro-- vided thereon whereby rotation of the headcan' vary the relationship between the end or stop plate 5'! and theassociated end plate 25 so that the effective length provided in thespring control means can be varied to control the compression set up inthe different coil springs when moving same into their compressed, orlocked condition. Of course, the adjustable end plates 51 are movablewith relation to the brackets 38 and the coil spring positioning tubes33.

aesaors Vibration, or shock or impact in the loom of the invention isreduced by the provision of cushioning means for gradually stopping themovement of the pusher plates 3! after they have been individuallyreleased or shot across the limited space between the sets of end plates26 and 21 when the lock means provided for the pusher plates have beenreleased. Such cushioning means may comprise a plurality of discs 6|,which may be made from rubber, or similar materlal and which are engagedwith and positioned by the individual bearing rods 28. Spacer sleeves 62are provided, usually to position the resilient discs 6'! at desiredpositions on the bearing rods 28.

It will be appreciated that the positions of the control feet 35provided for opposite ends of the pusher bar 2d will always be atopposite -or diametrically opposed portions of operative cycles for thetwo different shuttle imp'ellin'g means on opposite transverse sides ofthe loom of the invention. Likewise, the lock release means are alwaysat opposite portions of an operative cycle whereby a unitary controlmeans is provided for operating both shuttle impacting means of theinvention. Thus a desired timed relationship can be set up between thecooking of each shuttle actuating mechanism and the release thereof, andthe actions of the two shuttle actuating means are positively correlatedin a desired time relationship by use of the common control rod l9,

As an auxiliary feature or" the invention which facilitates changingcoil springs used or replacing a damaged spring, a cover plate 63, Fig.6 is associated with each end plate 253 on the outer surface thereof andis of a size to cover all of the ends of the positioning tubes '33. Thecover plates 63 are held in position by any suitable means which maycomprise the nuts 33 which aid in holding the brackets E8 in position.Hence upon removal of the nuts 39, the cover plates 63 can be removedand any desired tube 33 can be slid from engagement with the pair of endplates 26 and 2 between which it is positioned and in which suchpositioning tube is snugly but freely received. Similar cover plates 84usually are associated with the end plates 2! and are retained thereinby bolts 65 that are secured to the end plates 21.

The shuttle strikes or is received in a conventional binder 65 that aidsin stopping motion of the shuttle, and it moves across a conventionalpart of the loom. Tests in apparatus of the class described herein haveindicated that shuttles striking the shuttle stopping means of theinvention will rebound only a very small amount, such as /8 to /4".Furthermore, by the resilient stopping and impact transmitting means ofthe invention, shuttle life is greatly enhanced.

It will be appreciated that the control rod 46 may have an adjustableconnection with the control link 44 for regulating movement of thiscontrol link. If desired, other suitable guide means may be provided forthe control link or rods 46 and be carried by the frame 2 or bracketsassociated therewith.

In the apparatus shown, the shaft H3 illustrates the conventional driveshaft of a loom and the means provided in this instance for driving theshaft It] usually will not be present in the apparatus being replaced bythe conventional loom driving means. The particular relationship of theeccentric l3 to the shaft H] controls the timing of the apparatus incombination with the specific positions of the control arms 2| and 47 onthe control rod 19 and the particular relationship with each other andthe means controlled thereby.

In a modification of the invention, the rubber discs or sleeves Bl maybe replaced by means of an air cylinder which is secured to the endplates 21 and receive therein a plunger which is secured to and carriedby each of the pusher plates 3|. A suitable valve is provided in the endof the cylinder remote from the pusher plates 31 where by a controllablerelease action is secured on air received within such air cylinder. Oncocking or compressive movement of the pusher plates 3|, air is freelydrawn into the air cylinder through the control valve provided therefor.

It will be appreciated that the foot portion 35 provided on each end ofthe control or pusher rod 24 may be made from any desired material andmay have a resilient face portion to lessen the noise and impact ofcontact with the surface of the .pusher plate 3!. After the pusher rodhad moved the pusher plate 3i into a locked position, the continuedmovement of the pusher plate will be that of a return reciprocationmovement and the foot portion 35 will be disengaged with that specificpusher plate and the corresponding foot portion 35 upon the oppositemargin of the appar'atus will engage its pusher plate to start a cockingaction on that portion of the apparatus.

It may be desirable in some instances to use some kind of a delayedtimer or electrical release means for releasing the cooked sets of coilsprings for shuttle actuation.

It will be appreciated that the remaining part of the apparatus notspecifically described herein will conform in general to standard loomconstruction.

From the foregoing, it should be seen that a sturdy, effective, easilyadjusted type of spring actuating mechanism has been provided for theshuttle control means of the invention. These means have a cushionedstopping action on the control or pusher plate and associated means andthe actuating or cooking means of the invention are easily and readilyengageable with and disengageable from the pusher plates of theapparatus so that a positive compression or cooking action is obtainedby the apparatus. A relatively, inexpensive, uncomplicated actuationdevice is provided for the shuttle and novel impact means start and stopthe shuttles movement. In view of the foregoing, it is submitted thatthe objects of the invention have been realized.

While one complete embodiment of the invention has been disclosedherein, it will be appreciated that modification of this particularembodiment of the invention may be resorted to without departing fromthe scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. In a loom, a frame, a pair of end plates secured to spaced portionsof said frame, a plurality of bearing rods secured to and extendingbetween said end plates in parallel relation to each other, a pluralityof carrier sleeves slidably carried on said bearing rods, a compressioncontrol plate secured to said carrier sleeves for movement along saidbearing rods, a plurality of positioning tubes extending between saidend plates in spaced parallel relation to each other and to said bearingrods, a coil spring received on each of said tubes intermediate one saidend plate and said control plate, a stop plate positioned intermediatecorresponding ends of said springs and said one end plate, means foradjusting said stop plate to vary the positions of said springs, an armsecured to said control plate and extending therefrom to contact andthrow a shuttle on release of said control plate, means for moving saidcontrol plate to compress said springs, and means for releasing saidcontrol plate.

2. In a loom, a frame, a pair of end plates secured to spaced portionsof said frame, a plurality of bearing rods secured to and extendingbetween said end plates in parallel relation to each other, a controlplate slidably carried by said bearing rods, a plurality of positioningmembers extending between said end plates in spaced parallel relation toeach other and to said bearing rods, coil spring means received on saidpositioning members intermediate one said end plate and said controlplate, an arm secured to said control plate and extending therefrom tocontact and throw a shuttle on release of said control plate, means formoving said control plate to compress said springs, and means forreleasing said control plate.

3. In a loom, a frame, a pair of opposed end plates secured to spacedportions of said frame, a plurality of bearing rods secured to andextending between said end plates in parallel relation to each other, acompression control plate slidably carried by said bearing rods, aplurality of positioning tubes extending between said end plates inspaced parallel relation to each other and to said bearing rods, a coilspring received on each of said tubes intermediate one said end plateand said control plate, a stop plate positioned intermediatecorresponding ends of said springs and said one end plate, means foradjusting said stop plate to vary the positions of said springs, meansfor moving said control plate to compress said springs, means forlocking said control plate in a position with said springs in compressedcondition, and means for releasing said control plate.

l. In a loom, a frame, a pair of opposed end plates secured to spacedportions of said frame, a plurality of bearing rods secured to andextending between said end plates in parallel relation to each other, acompression control plate slidably carried by said bearing rods, aplurality of positioning tubes extending between said end plates inspaced parallel relation to each other and to said bearing rods, a coilspring received on each of said tubes intermediate one said end plateand said control plate, means for moving said control plate to compresssaid springs, means for locking said control plate in a position withsaid springs in compressed condition, and means for releasing saidcontrol plate.

5. A loom as in claim 4 wherein said lock means comprise one memberpivotally secured to said frame, and one member carried by said controlplate and engageable with said one member on said frame when saidsprings are compressed a desired amount.

6. In a loom, a frame, a continuously rotated driven member, a controlrod, means connecting said driven member to said control rod tooscillate same, a set of coil springs positioned in parallel alignedrelation, a compression control plate at one end of said coil springs, astop plate at the other ends of said springs, means connected betweensaid control rod and said control plate for moving said control plate tocompress said springs, means carried by said '10 control plate and saidframe for locking said springs in compressed form independently of theshuttle, and means operatively positioned between said lock means andsaid control rod to release said compressed springs in predeterminedtime relation to the compression of said springs.

7. In a loom, a continuously driven member, a control rod, meansconnecting said driven member to said control rod to oscillate same, aset of coil springs positioned in parallel aligned relation, a controlplate at one end of said coil springs, a stop plate positioned at theother end of said coil springs, automatically engageable lock meansoperatively associated with said control plate and said stop plate toengage and retain said coil springs in compressed condition, meansconnected between said control rod and said control plate for movingsaid control plate to compress said springs and engage said lock means.

8. In a loom having a shuttle movable thereacross, coil spring means, anarm connected to said spring means for throwing a shuttle across theloom, means positioned for movement axially of said spring means forcompressing said spring means, means for locking said spring meansoperatively associated with and at least partially carried by said firstmeans in compressed condition, means for releasing the spring lock meansat desired instances in the operation of the loom to effect a throw ofthe shuttle thereof, and unitary control means for said springcompressing means and said release means.

9. In a loom having a shuttle movable thereacross, a plurality of coilspring means for throwing a shuttle across the loom, means forcompressing the spring means as a unit, means for varying thecompression of the spring means when completely compressed, means forlocking the spring means in compressed condition, unitary means forsecuring corresponding ends of all of said spring means in position,individual means associated with each of said spring means to permitindividual removal of each of said spring means when said unitary meansis removed, and means for releasing the spring lock means at desiredinstances in the operation of the loom to effect a throw of the shuttlethereof.

10. Apparatus as in claim 6 wherein a set of compression springs,control plates and lock means are provided on opposite sides of a loomand link means connect said control rod to both of said lock means, andother link means connect said control rod to both of said controlplates.

11. In an apparatus as in claim 3, shock absorbing means carried by saidbearing rods ad- J'acent the second of said end plates to cushion thetermination of movement of said control plate on release thereof.

12. Apparatus as in claim 3, wherein said positioning tubes are retainedin engagement with said end plates by cover plates secured to the outersurfaces of each of said end plates.

13. In a loom having a shuttle movable thereacross, spring means forthrowing a shuttle across the loom, means for compressing the springmeans, means carried by said compressing means for locking the springmeans in compressed condition, means for releasing the spring lock meansat desired intervals in the operation of the loom to effect a throw ofthe shuttle thereof, a pusher plate associated with said compressingmeans and movable by said spring means upon release thereof fromcompressed condition,

and a plurality of resilient discs forming a stop Number for saidcontact plate at the end of its released 2,065,076 spring movement.2,172,615

ANTONIO LONGORIA. 5

References Cited in the file of this patent Number UNITED STATES PATENTS534 Number Name Date 1,024 1,087,082 Clark et a1. Feb. 10, 1914 10363,271

Name Date Kennedy Dec. 22, 1936 Kennedy Sept. 12, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTSCountry Date Great Britain of 1896 Great Britain of 1909 France Apr. 28,1906

